Discomfort as drivers navigate tough conditions on Day 3 of WRC Safari
British driver Elfyn Evans and British co-driver Scott Martin compete in their Toyota GR Yaris during the Concepcion stage of the WRC Rally Chile, the elventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship, on September 29, 2023 in Concepcion, Chile. (Photo by Guillermo SALGADO / AFP)
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Drama unfolded on Day Three of the Safari Rally Kenya as crews battled the rough and unpredictable Elementaita stage around Lake Naivasha.
Several drivers complained about late changes made to the 18.01km Elementaita stage, with rocks reportedly scattered along the racing line after markers placed during recce disappeared.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans did not hide his frustration after suffering punctures in the section.
“It’s an absolute joke. They put all these things at the finish to stop us from cutting after the recce, and now the stones are everywhere. I just went for the line and got a double puncture. It’s ridiculous and completely out of order,” said Evans.
Safari Rally leader Oliver Solberg also criticised the situation, raising safety concerns.
“Seriously, what the organisers and FIA have done is unacceptable. They put sticks after recce, sent us a video, and now all the sticks are gone—there are rocks everywhere. It’s dangerous, and they still talk about safety. This is unacceptable,” Solberg said.
FIA Spokesperson said: “Following completion of reconnaissance on SS12/15 and SS13/16, it became clear that competitors were substantially deviating from the defined roadway. As a result, and in accordance with Article 19.2 of the FIA WRC Sporting Regulations, the organisers installed barriers and additional taping over the final 1.13km of SS12/15 and the final 0.9km of SS13/16 in order to ensure compliance with the defined route.
"Following the installation of these measures, the Clerk of the Course issued Communication No. 8 at 17:45 on 13 March, informing competitors of the changes. This was followed by the distribution of video footage of the amended sections to all competitors, in line with standard practice at FIA World Rally Championship events, providing crews with sufficient time to review the changes and adjust their pace notes accordingly.”
The drama worsened when Evans was forced to retire on SS13 Sleeping Warrior after breaking his suspension, marking the first time since 2024 that the Welshman has retired from a leg of the World Rally Championship.
At the front, Solberg continued to lead the rally with a total time of 2:13:23, ahead of eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier who sits 42.6 seconds behind.
Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta moved up two places to third, 51.0 seconds off the lead.
Team Hyundai's Thierry Neuville climbed to fourth, while teammate Adrien Fourmaux dropped to fifth.
Yesterday’s standout performer Sami Pajari suffered a puncture on SS12 Elementaita, dropping to seventh, just behind Esapekka Lappi as the demanding Safari conditions continued to shake up the leaderboard.
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